We're planning a week-long trip to Vegas and are trying to choose between Bellagio or the Venetian hotel. We would appreciate some thoughts as to which would be better. Also, recommendations for nice restaurants would be helpful, as there are so many to choose from. Thanks

Bellagio, a room on a high floor overlooking the fountains.
Circo
Picasso
Olives
Do use the pools and spa.
Enjoy and Good Luck!

Picasso was excellent and I thought it was worth every penny. We were very disappointed in Vegas restaurants as a whole but this one was great. Mon Ami Gabi at Paris was excellent for lunch. Pinot Brasserie at Venetian was disappointing,everything very salty and overcooked halibut. Bellagio buffet was awesome, Mandalay paled in comparison. Off strip, Cafe Nicolle was excellent, the soup at Mayflower made us ill but everything else there was good.

Bellagio. The pools are awesome, restaurants first rate, the show "O" is on site, the rooms are very nice particularly the lake front rooms with views of the strip and fountains. I wouldn't stay anywhere else.

VENETIAN! You'll be happy to have all that extra space if you're staying for a full week. Bellagio is great to indulge for 2 or 3 nights. But the Venetian has more of a "village" atmosphere and you won't get claustrophobic.

Denise:

When are you going? If it's summer, the pool might be important to you. Venetian's is not that great (but I haven't seen Bellagio's.)

The rooms are the Venetian are spacious, which will be nice for you. I found the hotel to be nice, but not overly memorable...except for one thing...

If you go when it's windy, prepare for your floor to sound like a boiling teapot! I couldn't go to sleep. When I called the front desk, they said because of the way the hotel is vented, it makes that noise during strong winds. They told me to stuff towels below the door and in my windowsills, which I did and it helped. But what a horrible noise!

And of course there was the time the Venetian housekeeping staff cleaned my room, but left a dirty pair of men's tighty whities on my bed (I was alone). But that is another story...

I was very disappointed with the Bellagio....because of the staff. The hotel, however, is VERY beautiful! The gardens, museums, rooms, and the view of the fountains at night....ah! I will try the Venetian next time...

Mina, can you tell me more about the pool? What didn't you like about it?

Venetian not memorable? Preferred it much more than the Bellagio.

In the last month I have stayed at both the Venetian and the Bellagio and I preferred the Venetian. The Bellagio is a fantastic hotel, beautiful with nice rooms, however I got lost in that casino trying to find the elevator to my room everytime. The elevators are the farthest thing from the lobby. I also found the staff to be quite snobby and rude. But we stayed there for the "0" tickets that you get by being a registered guest (2nd. row - center stage). The Venetian elevators are 2 minutes from the lobby - just around a corner. The rooms are large, almost 800 square feet with a nice bathroom. The hotel is easy to maneuver and the pool is nice - we actually realized later that there are 5 pools on the property. The staff are all really helpful. I can't really report on the restaurants, as we didn't eat at the hotels. Hope this helps. TT